ECHL Charlotte Checkers

Checkers six-game winning streak snapped by Texas in 4-0 loss

Published on April 4, 2007 under ECHL (ECHL)
Charlotte Checkers News Release


(Charlotte, North Carolina - Wednesday, April 4) After a six-game winning streak, the Charlotte Checkers finally ran out of gas. With Charlotte playing its fourth game in the last five days and Texas rested since Saturday, the Wildcatters snapped the Checkers six-game winning streak with a 4-0 shutout Wednesday night at Bobcats Arena. The win was the fifth in a row for Texas, and vaulted the Wildcatters back into first place in the ECHL South.

A Charlotte victory could have clinched at least fourth place in the division, and kept the Checkers alive for a first-place or second place finish. The race in the division is so close, Charlotte (41-26-1-2) may not know until Saturday who or when they will play in the opening round of the Kelly Cup playoffs. (For up-to-date ECHL standings click here: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/statdisplay.php?type=standings )

Texas goalie, Matt Yeats, turned aside 33 Charlotte shots to earn his sixth shutout of the season. The Wildcatters got goals from four different players including Daniel Sparre, Jonathan Paiement, Kevin Baker, and Olivier Prouix. Evan Lindsey made his third start of the season in goal for the Checkers, and was the hard-luck loser with 31 saves in his first Charlotte loss.

"Fatigue may have played a little into tonight's defeat'" remarked Charlotte defenseman, Kenny Smith. "You hate to admit it but you have to realize that we got in real late last night and have played a bunch of games in a row. I also don't think we executed our game plan the way we wanted to. We knew that Yates was a good goaltender and wanted to try to get some traffic in front of him. When you don't do that in front of a good goaltender, he's going to make the stops."

The Checkers came out strong in the first period as they outshot the Wildcatters 13-12, but fell behind 1-0. Paiement got around the Charlotte defense with Texas on the power play, and passed the puck to a wide-open Sparre at 11 minutes, 45 seconds.

The Wildcatters (41-20-5-4) increased their lead to 2-0 in the first minute of the second period with a four-on-two odd-man rush. Paiment tipped in Baker's centering pass and Texas led 2-0 at 1:06. The Checkers kept pounding away with 15 shots in the period, but all were stopped by Yates.

Texas sealed the victory with a pair of goals in the first ten minutes of the final period, and preserved Yates' shutout for the 4-0 final. Charlotte finished the six-game season series with the Wildcatters at 2-3-1, including 1-2-0 at Bobcats Arena.

Charlotte hits the road for a Friday night contest against the Cincinnati Cyclones, before returning home for the regular-season finale Saturday night when they host the Columbia Inferno at 7:30 p.m.

CHECKERS WEDNESDAY NIGHT SCRATCHES: Rick Kozak and Nathan Gillies.

ON RECALL TO (AHL) HARTFORD: Hannu Pikkarainen, Alex Westlund, Corey Potter and Hugh Jessiman

ON LOAN TO (AHL) PROVIDENCE: Ryan Glenn

FOR BOX SCORE CLICK: http://echl.leaguestat.com/stats/game-summary.php?game_id=1769

NEXT GAME: The Checkers travel to Cincinnati for a 7:30 game Friday night against the Cyclones.

NEXT HOME GAME: The Checkers close out the 2006-07 regular season Saturday night hosting the Columbia.Inferno at 7:30 p.m. at Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

UPCOMING PROMOTIONS: The Checkers will close out the regular season at home Saturday night at Charlotte Bobcats Arena at 7:30 p.m. when they'll host the Columbia Inferno. Saturday's home game is :Fan Appreciation Night" and also "Dunk-A-Lawyer Night." Nikita "Nick" Mackey from the Law Offices of Mackey and Associates, PLLC; Daryl Hollnagel of Business Law Advisors; and District Court Judge Hugh B. Lewis will be alternating in the dunk tank. The dunk tank will be located in front of the 5th Street side of Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Dunk tank balls can be purchased for $2 each or three for $5 and all proceeds will benefit The Family Center.

Can't make the game? Watch it on B2 https://www.b2livetv.com/hockey/echl/charlotte/billnow.asp )

Check out the Charlotte Checkers Statistics

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ECHL Stories from April 4, 2007


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